1. Challenges & Opportunities for the Local School System Debra A. Maurizio Principal Clairton Middle / High School

2. CHALLENGES Those four famous letters in Pennsylvania ______ ______

3. Pennsylvania State System of Assessment (a.k.a. PSSA) Four tests / year Reading (grades 3-8 and 11) Math (grades 3-8 and 11) Writing (grades 5, 8, and 11) Science (grades 4, 8, and 11) All done in April Multiple choice and open-ended items

4. CHALLENGES: Those not so famous, but need to be famous three letters in Pennsylvania: _____ ______ _____

5. Standards Aligned System (a.k.a. S.A.S.) The Science SAS is designed for all students to receive a sound training in the fundamentals of Science following a coherent learning progression and connections to Mathematics, the natural language of science, and technology, the application of Science and Mathematics to problems of the human-made world.

6. Big Ideas, Concepts, Competencies, etc. Go to www.pde.state.pa.uswww.pde.state.pa.us Click on Standards Aligned System on the right Click on Science and Technology Grade spans: K-2 3-4 5-7 8-12

7. CHALLENGES Inclusion of children with special needs Are the activities able to be adapted to meet the needs of all learners? Could the activities already be differentiated to meet the needs of the students? What is the reading level of the materials provided? to

8. CHALLENGES Professional development time for the staff Self-contained classrooms K-6? Money for substitutes Availability of substitutes Train in the summer? Money? Will they go?

9. CHALLENGES Teacher buy in Can I do this with my students? Is cooperative learning already occurring in the classroom? More lecture-oriented at the secondary level? Does this fit with my districts curriculum?

10. CHALLENGES Where is the money going to come from? Pay for training the staff Pay for the materials Other priorities take precedence

11. OPPORTUNITIES Local Intermediate Units Governors Institutes sponsored by Pennsylvania Department of Education Staff members Local hospitals, businesses, etc. Partnerships with other organizations